Rivers State: N-Delta Youths Withdraw Ultimatum, Back PDP Governors against FG's Emergency Rule
By Ezekiel Kagbala
The South South sociopolitical group, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has officially withdrawn its seven-day ultimatum issued on the heels of the political tension in Rivers State demanding that oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region cease their activities.
The NDYC however expressed its full support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum in their resolve to challenge the state of emergency declared on Rivers State on Tuesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
These were contained in a statement signed by the President of the NDYC, Comrade Bene Youkore Mamamu, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Friday.
According to the statement, "the Council's decision to withdraw the ultimatum aligns with the PDP Governors' Forum's stance against the state of emergency, which undermines democratic governance and could exacerbate existing tension in the region".
It will be recalled that the NDYC had initially issued the ultimatum in response to the political tension between the Minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara if River State.
Bene Mamamu explained that "after a series of consultations and discussions among members, the Council has decided to take a more collaborative approach rather than resorting to drastic measures that could further escalate tensions".
Mamamu alleged the state of emergency declared on Rivers by President Tinubu "is an expression of his bias, hatred for the Niger Delta region".
"From the inception of the political face-off between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara, President Tinubu's body language has always suggested that he is on the side of Wike to cause crises in the region", Mamamu further stated.
The NDYC statement partly reads, "After several meetings with some critical stakeholders from the region, the Council decided to call off the ultimatum, to back the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) to challenge the suspension by President Tinubu of the democratically elected Governor, Similaye Fubara.
"It is unfortunate that a seating President could openly support Godfatherism to the extent that there were lawmakers loyal to Wike instead of the law and their electorate. This is gross injustice, undemocratic and oppressive.
"Niger Delta Youths are solidly behind the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) to challenge the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and other elected officials of the state in court,
"The suspension of Fubara is a threat to democracy and if such dangerous precedence is not corrected it could be used as a political weapon in the future to fight against good governance especially those who are not in support of Godfatherism".
The NDYC declared its condemnation, in strong terms, for the vandalisation of Trans-Niger Pipeline and the vandalisation of other petroleum pipelines linked to the political crises in Rivers State, calling on security operatives to thoroughly investigate those behind the dastardly act.
Bene Mamamu, in the statement, insisted that "Sim Fubara remains the elected Governor of Rivers State" stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on Rivers was illegal, unconstitutional and null and void.
